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Katrīna Tračuma

Fine art from the heart.

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akisforkatart

Liberationist from Latvia ♒
21st Century Animalier 🎨
Fluent: ENG / LV / RU / PL
In chronic pain ☠️
Sapiophile 🏳️‍🌈

As I ramp up production for an upcoming major solo

As I ramp up production for an upcoming major solo show, of course I’m making another gouache art book! 🖌️

#gouacheillustration #artbook #artistinlatvia #glezniecība #māksla

January 2026 part 3️⃣ Trying to conclude the firs

January 2026 part 3️⃣

Trying to conclude the first chapter of this year on a positive note. With Luci ever so diligently keeping me company through every online meeting - all while I also keep myself busy with a newly discovered craft of puffy air dry clay charm making. Simba, still in between treatments that are improving her quality of life, loyally resting on her favourite spot in our bed. Me showing off my new (and only) black clothing item additions in my pink wardrobe. And Us, finally having a date all to ourselves, exploring @rigaweddingexpo all thanks to winning the @l_lys_lab_ giveaway. While there, I enjoyed a very nice oat milk cappuccino, and we saw some local fashion designer talent in the cat walk shows. Highlight of the day however, was meeting the creator of the most gorgeous artisanal crowns from @viesistaba_sudrabkalni Judīte Bukša. I tried on 3 crowns picked out by my Love, and we are officially obsessed with all of them! 👑 🕯️☕️💃🐈🐈‍⬛👩🏻‍🎨

#puffyairdryclay #motherofcats #veganinlatvia #rigaweddingexpo2026 #crownsandtiaras

January 2026 part 2️⃣ Legs up in studio as I bega

January 2026 part 2️⃣

Legs up in studio as I began work on a massive pink under panting. A total of 5 vet visits later, Simba has jumped back up on a kitchen chair all by herself - something that I thought she might never do again. Though, she has only done it the one time, it is still a win because she has been getting into our bed all by herself since - and that sure beats me sleeping on the floor next to her crate. She rarely uses the provided step stool though. While Luci has been all paws on deck helping us with some home renovations. Thanks to my love, we have gained more space for books, art supplies, and model kits. I am also in awe of all the beauty this time of year, and as a true winter baby am very much enjoying the cold and shimmering snow blanket covering the land. Aquarius season is upon us! One world, one future. 🌍🕊️❄️🐈🐈‍⬛

#aquariusseason #artstudio #veganinlatvia #motherofcats #january2026

Me emerging from the last two days of bed rotting

Me emerging from the last two days of bed rotting with my familiars… Period 1/12 of 2026 coming to an end - 11 to go! 🎉🥳🎊

On a serious note - living with chronic pain means trying so hard to thrive while you’re fighting to survive. It’s making plans you’ll end up cancelling. Worrying about the disappointment caused to others. It’s being on sick leave and getting paid less for being born in your particular body; being punished by the system for not winning the biological lottery. It’s the outfit I picked out the night before, collecting dust and cat hair on the edge of the bed. The lunch I packed for the day ahead, to be eaten cold, half left at the side of my bed. While trying to come up with yet another pharmaceutical concoction, that won’t make the pain go away - it’ll just alleviate it to some discomfort, for a short while. All this while also taking care of those who depend on you. 🐈‍⬛🐈

It’s not often that I mention my struggles of living with chronic pain. But this is my reality unfortunately. This condition - the female hormonal cycle - steals my health, energy, wellbeing, time, life from me. I could be so much more if I was not born a woman. 🪦

Inspired by artist Maggi Hambling’s famous advice: “If you’re going to be an artist, you have to make your art your best friend – so whatever you’re feeling, you can go to it”, I once kept a sketchbook to record my experiences during menstruation. Maggi Hambling explains her approach as using the work to process emotions—whether happy, sad, or tired—by having a conversation with it. To go to it when needed. As I experience my periods so viscerally and debilitatingly painfully, I could barely keep this sketchbook going for a year - and I doubt I’ll ever be able to keep another one again. But, if you are interested in seeing a visual representation of what it’s like to have “just another period” - I welcome you to browse my patron page for a full video tour of my notes. ✍️

#periodpain #sketchbook #familiar #chronicpainchronicles #period

January 2026 part 1️⃣ The beginning of this year

January 2026 part 1️⃣

The beginning of this year was filled with peace, joy and creativity. Since the middle of the month my Simba has been feeling unwell though, and it has changed everything. She is improving, but I am still an emotional wreck and have been prioritising spending as much time with her as possible. I also finally experienced “going viral” (if it even qualifies as that), with a very generic nothing special post. And have been relying on sugar as my emotional support. Trying to focus on very good moment and glimpse of happiness I mange to capture.

#january2026 #whatartistsdoallday #artstudio #motherofcats #veganinlatvia

You’ve got the most unbelievable green eyes I’ve e

You’ve got the most unbelievable green eyes I’ve ever seen. 🐱💗🐾

My senior Simba is not feeling too well, and I am an emotional wreck in anticipation of the vet visit tomorrow. Thank you for keeping her in your thoughts. I cherish every day with her as she lives her 20th year with us. ❤️‍🩹

#bestartstudioassistant

My calling, vocation, career, job, and saving grac

My calling, vocation, career, job, and saving grace is art. Making and creating, as well as consuming and experiencing. It is an aspect of life that connects me the most to humanity, to living. 🎨👩🏻‍🎨🖌️

Thank you for being here with me. ❤️

#multidisciplinaryartist #artstudio #contemporarypainter #oilpaintingartist #performanceartist

A “finished painting” in the eyes of an artist is

A “finished painting” in the eyes of an artist is one that they are tired of seeing. 🖌️

#paintingprocess #paintingstudio #oilpainting #acrylicpainting #aquaticart

#artstudio #dopaminedressing #ярадуга #жизньхудожн

#artstudio #dopaminedressing #ярадуга #жизньхудожника #последепрессии

#dopaminedressing #colourfulmakeup #artstudio #wha

#dopaminedressing #colourfulmakeup #artstudio #whatartistslooklike #whatveganslooklike

I’m only human. 🖌️ #detailpainting #oilpainting #

I’m only human. 🖌️

#detailpainting #oilpainting #artstudio #easierthanemail #busstoppainting

#artstudioreflections #paintingday #artstudio #gle

#artstudioreflections #paintingday #artstudio #glezniecība #artistvlog

#artispolitical #everythingispolitical #artivism #

#artispolitical #everythingispolitical #artivism #pinkestpink #artstudio

Previous estimate of how many en plein air pieces

Previous estimate of how many en plein air pieces I actually made in 2025 might have been slightly disingenuous. I am sure glad I actually got to do more than expected! And would love to keep the number of such experiences rising on an upward trajectory. It is my favourite form of therapy - makes you connect with the here and now, overcome obstacles of temperature fluctuations and light changing, as well as being grateful for the lived experience no matter the outcome. Who wants to go on some en plein air trips together this year? 🖼️

PS - full detailed views of all paintings, and a look at the process behind them, available on my Patreon page. 👩🏻‍💻

#enpleinair #oilpainting #landscapepainter #glezniecība #ainava

In my studio 💗 #paintingstudio #paintingprocess #

In my studio 💗

#paintingstudio #paintingprocess #culturehustlepaints #painting #glezniecība

Born to paint, forced to make reels. 🤪 #paintingp

Born to paint, forced to make reels. 🤪

#paintingprocess #paintingstudio #artinlatvia #culturehustlepaints #glezniecība

MFA degree show 2021 installation view ♻️ #clownp

MFA degree show 2021 installation view ♻️

#clownpainting #oilpainting #artinstallation #belfastschoolofart #glezniecība

MFA degree show 2021 installation aftermath 🤡🎓♻️

MFA degree show 2021 installation aftermath 🤡🎓♻️

#mfa #degreeshow #belfastschoolofart #artinstallation #trashart

Thank You for making my 2025 year! ❤️ Had 3 solo

Thank You for making my 2025 year! ❤️

Had 3 solo shows. 🖼️
Curated 3 group exhibitions.
Co organised a festival for the first time @galasnodoklis 🐄
Participated in 16 group exhibitions.
Had 5 performances. 🤡
Made 63 original postcards for @patreon 💌
Traveled to Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania (twice). 🌍
Participated in an Erasmus+ funded training for social movement impact and resilience.
Recorded 5 dreams in my dream journal. 📓
Created 15 en plein air paintings.
Read 15 books, 2 magazines, and 1 short story. 📚
Completed 1 out of 2 planned architectural oil paintings.
Attempted to make gel prints. 🫟
Participated at the International Animal Rights Conference as a speaker @internationalarconference 🕊️
Held my very first art giveaway. 🎁
Made my first 2 food illustrations for a vegan cookbook @artofcompassionproject 🌱
Completed 2 art books full of gouache illustrations.
Gallery LVN has been going for over a year now. 🎨
Made 10 new paintings.
Designed and cut 46 original linocut pieces to be used as part of AUGam fest lino print workshops @augamlv 🫜
Facilitated 4 workshops.
Took part in 4 markets. 💸
Appeared on the Nua Collective podcast, twice.
Had an article published in the Nua Journal @nuacollectiveart 📝
Featured in press 10 times.
Was a guest for 4 podcast interviews. 🎙️
Entered a work in a public collection - Drawn from Border zine, as part of the Zine habitat on the theme of “Ecosystem” in Sābrs workroom in Riga, Latvija @sabrsworkroom 🫆
Made it as a ‘Aspazija. A strong woman. Portrait.’ (LV – ‘Aspazija. Spēcīga sieviete. Portrets.’) competition finalist @aspazijas_maja 👩🏻‍🎨
Moved in to a much bigger and separate studio space.
Attended 3 protests. 🪧
Celebrated world vegan day with a public talk about my art @burzma.lv 🍽️
Celebrated our 3rd year anniversary with my love.
Played 2 video games 👾
Visited the city of Cēsis in Latvia for the very first time.
Got a book printed of my artful portraits made by @darja_jpg 📸
Wrote my morning pages 9 times.

Grateful for my resilient and determined character. Stay delusional, obsessed, terrified. Keep failing.

#2025recap #artist #latvija #māksla #glezniecība

Happy NYE from my Home and Heart to Yours! ♥️❄️🤍

Happy NYE from my Home and Heart to Yours! ♥️❄️🤍

#nye #latvija #whatveganslooklike #snowstorm #nyemakeup

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